Stu

In the VFL game on Sunday he was flat footed at contests (like he can often be) but instead of just letting his opponent mark it, he lunged desperately into 3 contests (that I saw) and effected the spoil. Two of those occasions led directly to goals. I imagine that’s the “big man” game type stuff Goody has instructed him to work on. Hopefully he can replicate that at AFL level.

Matt Taberner is an interesting comparison. Is 28 and is averaging 2.3 goals this season, much better than any of his previous years. He also showed glimpses of quality at times and similarly frustrated Freo supports by his lack of consistency.

Great analogy! Burgess left Liverpool FC because he felt there wasn’t much for him to do as they were playing a game every 3-4 days most weeks keeping them match sharp with minimal training. The recovery was also more gentle than compared to AFL (game length and ground size being shorter, and less physicality). Basically once the season started things took care of themselves more or less. With AFL, the break between games is tougher to manage the balance between recovery and keeping players fitness at the required level. Hence the impact of loading to get players back to peak fitness at the right time of year.

Exactly. Not all teams will load (heavily or at all) because their position on the ladder doesn’t allow it. If you’re 7-5 after round 12 you can’t afford to risk dropping another 3-4 games post bye. Being 9-0 last year and 10-0 this year has given the FD the luxury of planning for the last third of the season now. I wonder if the team will have a lighter load this week to help get a win and not enter the bye on three straight losses. I doubt it, but it will be interesting to keep an eye as the game unfolds.

It's been interesting to see how we've changed from a forward pressure defensive team, to a more passive defence that relies on structure and absorbing momentum. Do you think it's to do with playing a style that will get wins while (firstly) building fitness in the early part of the year after a shorter and interrupted pre-season (COVID), and then (secondly) while the training loads ramp up in the mid-part of the year (where we are now)? Is this by design (not losing, just the game strategy) and that fatigue is to blame for the lack of polish? Or is it bad habits creeping in that haven't been arrested? In almost every game this year we've played that dynamic and aggressive style for small parts of the game that has gotten us out to a 4-6 goal lead, and then we've tried to control the tempo and absorb pressure. Even against Freo and the Swans we got out to a decent lead off the back of that style in Q2 and Q1 respectively, but we're unable to maintain that lead (without May).

Well that game has me not worried about either of these sides.